Over the past week, several notable events have unfolded in the world of figure skating:
ISU Junior Grand Prix in Xi’an, China
From August 19 to 22, 2026, the ISU Junior Grand Prix series commenced in Xi’an, China. Thirteen U.S. Junior National Team skaters participated, representing the United States across all four disciplines: women’s singles, men’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. Notably, five athletes made their Junior Grand Prix debut at this competition. The event featured live streaming of all competitions on the ISU YouTube channel. (usfigureskating.org)
Russian Skaters’ Return to International Competition
After a four-year hiatus due to an international ban, Russian junior figure skaters made a significant comeback at the ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Xi’an. Competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs), they secured gold medals in all four disciplines. In the pairs event, Polina Shesheleva and Egor Karnaukhov clinched the title with a combined score of 191.84 points, surpassing China’s Chen Yuxuan and Dong Yinbo, who earned silver with 157.52 points. (thepressunited.com)
Upcoming U.S. Figure Skating Events
Looking ahead, U.S. Figure Skating has announced several events for the 2026–27 season:
-
Skate America: Scheduled for November 13–15, 2026, at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. This marks the first time the event returns to Everett since 2018. (usfigureskating.org)
-
National Qualifying Series (NQS): The 2026–27 NQS schedule includes 21 qualifying events across singles, pairs, and ice dance disciplines, culminating in the NQS Finals in November. (usfigureskating.org)
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the figure skating landscape, with international competitions and national events shaping the trajectory of the sport.
